Dr. Phil Hoskins preached the morning message and had several interesting stories from his many years of preaching.

A few notes I wrote:

What you believe, you eventually become.

I want to cross the finish line with my torch still burning.

Maintain your Christian character. Maintain your compassion.

Since there was no charge for the morning service and our two extra seats were vacant, Nsimba and Elizabeth chose to go back. We walked across this bridge to Panera Bread for lunch. (Two young men were pleased to use our two extra seats for the evening service.)

We tried a variety of poses to get some pictures of them.

We enjoyed watching this mule in the field next to the bridge.

Soul’d Out opened the evening concert.

Wes Hampton (tenor for Gaither Vocal Band)

Booth Brothers

Daily and Vincent are one of our favorite groups.

They had a few young, talented musicians with their group.

~~~

We were blessed to just sit and relax and soak in the ministry of each of the individual people and groups.

This was Nsimba’s 2017 birthday gift. He and our granddaughter Elizabeth arrived from Maine the night before. (Photo without flash)

With flash

Southern Raised opened the afternoon concert.

They do bluegrass gospel, but are classically trained and brought the audience to their feet with a Beethoven piece.

Aaron Wilburn was back with his comedy.

Legecy Five

They have a very talented pianist.

Jimmy Fortune is one of my favorite singers.

During evening break we walked across the street (busy Route 30 East) to Cracker Barrel for supper.

Tribute Quartet opened the evening program.

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For some reason I forgot to take a picture of Larry Gatlin.

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The Hoppers closed the evening program. I think this was Nsimba’s favorite group. He loves Southern Gospel music but had never been to a live concert. It was fun taking him to his first concert. Knowing that he was blessed, was a blessing to us.

If you follow my blog and Facebook page you know that I rarely post pictures in real time – or in this case a bit ahead of real time. 🙂 But I have reason to post these pictures this morning. (Read the last paragraph.)

We are currently enjoying the gospel music festival at Hershey Theatre – a 53rd anniversary gift from our wonderful children. This picture was taken when we arrived on Friday evening – the opening concert.

We haven’t been to this gospel festival for many years for several reasons. It is often held on Labor Day weekend and we are usually visiting our Maine family and the bluegrass festival near their house. This year the gospel festival is not on Labor Day weekend and the bluegrass festival near the Myers house was cancelled due to the illness and death of the venue owner.

Next year the gospel music festival will go back to Labor Day weekend and will be held at American Music Theatre. We are thinking of reserving seats, because some of our favorite gospel bluegrass groups will be there.

Going to Hershey for the past few days gives me a feeling of going “home” because I was born in Hershey Hospital when my parents worked on one of the Milton Hershey farms that were associated with the Hershey Boys School and Foundation.

I had never been to the theatre and am fascinated by this beautiful, old building that seats 1,904 people.

From the Internet: The magnificent Hershey Theatre was conceived by entrepreneur and philanthropist Milton S. Hershey in the early twentieth century. Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban drew the plans for the Community Center Building in 1915; however, it was built between 1929 and 1933 as part of Mr. Hershey’s “Great Building Campaign” of the Great Depression, which also produced such Hershey landmarks as the Hotel Hershey, the Hersheypark Arena, and the Hershey Stadium.

The concert began on Friday evening at 7:00 PM with a concert by the Erwins. We love our center section, seventh row, aisle seats. I was challenged by the words of one of their songs that included the words, Lord I’m chasing after You.

Comedian Tim Lovelace has been our funny and interesting master of ceremonies. He reminded us that God, the composer of life, is writing your song.

Karen Peck and New River gave a beautiful concert. I was encouraged by the song with the words, “Everyone is going through something and everyone faces storms, but I would sure rather go through something with Him.”

A featured musician in the group, Ricky Braddy (second from left) was in the top 15 of Season 8 of American Idol.

My favorite group of Friday night was Triumphant Quartet. I love their style and harmony.

My favorite song of the night – and maybe the concert – was this father-son duet (Clayton and Scott Inman) singing about the power of the scriptures – from Genesis to Revelation – during Triumphant Quartet’s concert.

The newest group of the weekend is Cana’s Voice – a combination of three soloists forming one group: Jody McBrayer, TaRanda Greene and Doug Anderson. We enjoyed them together and as soloists throughout the concert.

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Saturday

Because I wanted to post the pictures of this weekend before we leave for Texas, I didn’t want to take a lot of phots, plus it is difficult to get good shots because of the lighting. I left my camera at home for the rest of the concert.

Yesterday (Saturday) I took several pictures with my cell phone to comment on a few highlights. We were interested in hearing the Perry’s because they are coming to the Truck Rally in 2017. We were blessed by their songs and testimony – especially since Tracy Stuffle’s stroke that has him in a wheel chair. I was blessed by their song that included the words: Keep on. Stay strong. Be brave. Pray hard.

Then there was Gordon Mote. Oh, my, what an amazing pianist – and he is blind.

One of my favorite comments by him: “How many of you have never seen me before?” After many of us raised our hands, he said, “Join the ranks. I have never seen me either.” 🙂

I took this picture of Doug Anderson (of Cana’s Voice) to show you what I mean about the fabulous stage lighting which made taking photos a bit difficult.

A group (whom I did not photograph) from yesterday were The Penny Loafers who are a capella with a distinct doo-wop sound. I think they were in their third song before I realized they were a capella. 🙂

A truly amazing group from yesterday was the Collingsworth Family. It was a highlight to listen and watch Kim (mother) on the piano. They brought the audience to their feet with The Battle Hymn of the Republic. She takes her piano with her to every concert. Afterward I asked Phil (father) if they could put it on a flatbed truck. He said they could! I need to call their agent to see if we can line them up for our 2018 Truck Rally.

Sunday (today)

We are looking forward to another day of music – beginning at 10:00 AM with music by The Couriers and preaching by Dave Kyllonen (of the Couriers).

The Couriers were one of the first gospel music groups Cerwin and I ever saw in concert. During our dating days Cerwin and I broke up between October 1961 and May 1962. Our first date back together was going to a Couriers concert in Harrisburg. Interesting that we are going to hear them again for our 53rd wedding anniversary. 🙂

This afternoon and evening should be a great finale with The Hoppers, Greater Vision, and Brian Free and Assurance.

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Monday

We plan to begin our trip to Houston, Texas. Cerwin wants to be pulling out of the TFC parking lot by 5 AM – to deliver the newest chapel to the Flying J, at US 59 and Highway 242. I will update you on our trip as I can because we know there are family and TFC friends and staff who are praying for us and want to follow our trip – especially Chaplain Don DeSimone and his wife, Barbara in Texas. We look forward to meeting them on Wednesday – Lord willing.

It was a beautiful afternoon for Bucks-Montgomery Chapter’s Truck Show.

By 6 PM it was time for the evening dinner concert.

Scott Weidner, TFC President and CEO gave a ministry update.

We enjoyed a great concert by King’s Strings. They are a family of nine children. Two of them are in college, so there were only seven at this concert. Five are birth children and four are adopted. The baby is not yet playing an instrument. 🙂

They all wore the same style and color sneaker.

The mother of the family.

They are incredibly talented and played by using a lot of unusual styles and methods.

One daughter went out in the audience and danced a jig with Jason Shelly – the MC for the evening – while playing fiddle.

We sang songs like “Will the Circle be Unbroken”, “Amazing Grace”, “The Old Rugged Cross”, and “Do Lord.”

Mark, Diane, and Hezekiah are in the back row – close to the camera – 3rd, 4th, and 5th from the right. Elizabeth is in the front on the right. Cerwin was next to Hezekiah, and Hannah and Lydia came after I took this picture.

Some listened from their canoes.

The man in the white “Bluegrass” shirt often whistled the chorus.

The festival sketch artist was sitting next to me.

I asked him if he has been sketching his entire life.

He replied, “My brother said I was born with a pencil in my hand.”

Pastor Mike’s Sermon was about the significance of Peter walking on water and applying it to our lives.

Realize – a trouble or need

Recognize – that the solution is Jesus

Respond – get out of the boat

Rely – on Jesus to finish well

If I remember correctly this was a grandson and grandfather singing.

Going for a cup of water.

Got it

The Larry Stephenson Band opened at 10:00 on the stage.

Della Mae

I enjoy their style and sound.

Town Mountain

Photos from my lunch walk.

The sketch artist was putting the finishing touches on the morning worship service.

Lonely Heartstring Band

The Blue Angels are back for their final show of the weekend.

Someone said, “It doesn’t get any better than a weekend of Blue Angels, blue skies, and bluegrass. 🙂

Our last sight of them.

Heze’s sweet Sarah joined him for the evening program.

Another plane leaving the naval base.

Evening reflections at high tide.

There’s that boat again.

My favorite group of the day – The Gibson Brothers. The two brothers are in the center playing banjo and guitar.

They have great sibling harmony and comedy.

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives closed the stage show. They are incredibly talented musicians.

After the stage shows, there is the Late Night Stage (10:30) under the tent with Tennessee Mafia Jug Band with Leroy Troy. Town Mountain was on at 11:45.

I can’t stay awake that late, but Diane, Elizabeth, Hannah, Heze, and Lydia stayed until sometime after midnight. Mark went home early because he had to be at work before sunrise on Monday morning.

We arrived an hour early on Friday morning – to set up our lawn chairs. We also had chairs for Mark and Diane’s family for Sunday. We put some on the lawn and others under the tent – to protect us from the heat of the afternoon sun.

This man was testing the sound before the opening ceremony.

Since I had time, I looked for some photo opportunities.

There were geraniums in hanging pots under the roof of the main lodge.

Cerwin liked the side rails on this pickup truck.

The truck and guitar necks were an advertisement for Bourgeois Guitars.

Cerwin enjoyed talking to a staff person from Bourgeois.

The opening ceremony included “Oh, Canada” and “Star Spangled Banner”.

There was barely a breeze in the morning (as you can see in the previous photo) so I took another picture of the flags later in the day.

Pati Crooker Mulligan (center with blue glasses) owner of Thomas Point Beach was honored with a banjo flower arrangement – by her two sisters.

Opening group: Michelle Canning and Rough Edges

Williamson Branch is a regular at this festival and a favorite of ours.

Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa – my favorite group this year.

After lunch I went for a walk around the campground.

A broad view of the grounds. Some of our chairs were near the blue umbrella on the left. We had several other chairs under this white tent.

The tide was coming in.

This is a great place for clamming.

Not sure why there was a wagon full of stuffed toys near the beach fence.

It was a beautiful afternoon.

I love the sights, scents, and sounds of the campground.

Behind the vendors and the stage (right)

My favorite vendor at this festival. Love the lobster roll and the crab cakes are incredibly delicious.

Twisted Pine

There were two large Jenga games on the grounds.

Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen

Lonely Heartstring Band

The home of a Maine Osprey.

One side benefit of being at Thomas Point Beach this past weekend was the air show at Brunswick Naval Base – next door.

Friday was the best day to see the Blue Angels, because they were practicing for Saturday and Sunday shows – giving us many opportunities to see and hear them.

There were five of them.

Foghorn Stringband

I went for another walk during the dinner break.

While walking along the beach I came upon this artist and talked to her a bit.

She was pleased that I asked to take pictures of her.

It was a cool evening, and after ordering a cup of decaf coffee to help me stay warm, I also purchased something new for me – fried dough. This was my supper. 🙂

It was a bit like a donut and came with maple syrup. Cerwin ate about half of it.

Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa were back after supper.

We went back to Mark and Diane’s house after Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen because it had gotten quite cold.

Personal

My husband, Cerwin, and I have four married children and sixteen grandchildren. Three granddaughters are married and we have one great-grandson. We serve with Transport For Christ - a ministry to truck drivers - and love our life in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.